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Drunk Driving DeathsDrunk Driving deaths are far too common and make up a large percentage of the annual road toll. In fact, one of the most commonly-committed criminal offenses of all times is the driving under the influence of alcohol, or more commonly known as DUI.Even the most popular celebrities, such as Lindsay Lohan, fall victim to this type of crime. But no matter how much fame or fortune you have, the consequences and penalties of drunk driving can be devastating. Often times, people take driving for granted, thus, putting their lives at risk, not to mention the lives of others. The significant increase in the number of deaths caused by drunk driving alarms both the authorities and the parents of teenagers. This is also mainly because more and more teens are getting involved in this deadly practice. In the United States, according to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA), there were approximately 17,941 deaths in the year 2006 due to alcohol-related collisions. This overwhelming figure represents 40% of the total traffic deaths in the US. The NHTSA classifies fatal collisions as "alcohol-related" if they believe a driver, passenger, or non-motorist (such as a person crossing the pedestrian crossing or riding a bike) had a blood alcohol content (BAC) of 0.01 or greater.. On the other hand, NHTSA defines nonfatal collisions as "alcohol-related" if the accident report indicates evidence of alcohol present. It is specifically noted by the NHTSA that the term "alcohol-related" does not necessarily imply a driver or non occupant was tested for alcohol and that the term does not indicate a collision or fatality was brought about by the presence of alcohol. On an average, approximately 60% of the BAC values are either missing or unknown. Therefore, to analyze what they believe is the complete data, statisticians simulate BAC information. Drivers with a BAC of 0.10 are six to twelve times more likely to get into a fatal car collision or crash than drivers with no alcohol. These statistics above show how dangerous drunk driving is. A law was created to further discourage people from driving under the influence of alcohol. According to Wikipedia, in the US, "the various versions of "driving under the influence" generally constitute a misdemeanor (punishable by up to one year in jail). However, the offense may be elevated to a felony (punishable by a longer term in state prison) if the incident caused serious injury or what they call felony DUI, death or also known as vehicular manslaughter or vehicular homicide, or extensive property damage (a state specified dollar amount) or if the defendant has a designated number of prior DUI convictions within a given time period (commonly, 3 prior convictions within 7 years)." Several measures are being implemented in order to educate people regarding the risks of drunk driving. Drunk driving deaths are growing in number, and we have a social responsibility in our society to help in educating people and bringing awareness to them regarding this matter. Life is a gift. I hope we shall all learn to treasure that gift and cherish this life, not waste it by being neglectful and irresponsible. Return from Drunk Driving Deaths to Car Accident Lawyer Home New! CommentsHave your say about what you just read! Leave us a comment in the box below. |
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